Contact Adhesive, What is it?

At Cantikwall, the use of Contact Adhesive (CA) is a norm when it comes to vinyl flooring installation. So, what exactly is Contact Adhesive (CA)?

Contact adhesives provide the advantage of high initial strength. They are based on polymers that exhibit the capability to bond to themselves as dry adhesive films (auto-adhesion). Both surfaces to be bonded must be coated and the adhesive dried. Coated surfaces bond immediately on contact so care needs to be taken in positioning the substrates prior to contact since re-positioning is nearly impossible. Once the bond has been made, it is typically pressed or rolled to insure complete contact. The high initial strength of contact adhesives makes them ideal for a variety of laminating applications. Because the adhesive is dried before bonding, contact adhesives can be used to bond large areas of non-porous substrates.​

Another usage of CA glue, to laminate formica onto custom made cabinet.
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Contact adhesives are available in both solvent based and water based dispersion systems. Solvent based systems dry faster and allow bonds to be made more quickly. Because they contain flammable solvent, proper care must be taken for safe handling. Solvent based contact adhesives are also regulated due to environmental concerns. The drying time for water based contact adhesives can be shortened by heating or increased air movement. Both solvent and water based contact adhesives are well suited for automated assembly of wide area laminates. Adhesive can be applied by spray or roller and drying is accelerated by use of a drying oven. Contact adhesives are used extensively to assemble counter tops, building panels and furniture.

It is advisable to wear safety masks as the smell of CA glue can cause dizziness. ​
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Contact Adhesive is a very useful item in some situations and it easy to obtained from your local hardware stores. Make sure to open up your windows to give air flow as the smell emitted by the CA glue can cause headache, nausea, dizziness,etc. Once you are done with your usage, make sure to seal and keep it in a cool and dry area and away from children.



​Peace...